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No.  1991 


COAST  ARTILLERY  TARGETS 
AND  ACCESSORIES 


( THREE  PLATES) 


FEBRUARY  27,  1908 
REVISED  JUNE  15,  1909 
REVISED  OCTOBER  29,  1913 
REVISED  AUGUST  21,  1917 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1917 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

Microsoft  Corporation 


No.  1991 


COAST  ARTILLERY  TARGETS 
AND  ACCESSORIES 


( THREE  PLATES) 


FEBRUARY  27,  1908 
REVISED  JUNE  15,  1909 
REVISED  OCTOBER  29,  1913 
REVISED  AUGUST  21,  1917 


WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE 

1917 


A3 


War  Department, 
Office  of  the  Chief  of  Ordnance, 

Washington,  August  21,  1917. 
This  manual  is  published  for  the  information  and  government 
of  the  Regular  Army  and  National  Guard  of  the  United  States. 
By  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War : 

William  Crozier, 
Brigadier  General,  Chief  of  Ordnance. 

6288—17  (3) 


365261 


LIST  OF  PLATES. 


Drawing 

No. 


Plate   I.  Seacoast  target,  small,  model  1917 39-2-3 

II.  Seacoast  target,  pyramidal,  model  1917 39  1-3 

III.  Seacoast  target,  triangular,  model  1917 39-4-11 

(4) 


COAST  ARTILLERY  TARGETS  AND  ACCESSORIES. 


Plates  I,  II,  and  III. 

The  seacoast  target,  small,  model  of  1917,  is  to  replace  the  smaller 
target,  model  of  1910. 

Two  pyramidal  targets  are  provided,  the  one  shown  on  drawing 
39-4-3  is  to  be  used  for  the  greater  ranges  and  more  severe  weather 
conditions ;  the  triangular  target  is  intended  for  use  at  lesser  ranges, 
especially  where  the  maximum  towing  speed  is  desired. 

All  three  targets  were  designed  in  accordance  with  results  obtained 
from  a  number  of  experimental  targets  made  up  originally  in  Long 
Island  Sound  and  later  given  exhaustive  tests  by  the  Coast  Artillery 
Board  at  Fort  Monroe. 

It  is  not  thought  to  be  expedient  to  specify  the  conditions  under 
which  each  target  is  to  be  used  but  to  allow  the  coast  defense  com- 
mander the  greatest  latitude  in  the  solution  of  the  problems  which 
confront  him. 

SEACOAST  TARGET,    SMALL,    MODEL  OF  1917. 

This  target  has  a  base  of  two  running  timbers  3  by  12  inches  by 
29  feet  braced  by  three  cross  planks  2  by  10  inches  by  10  feet  notched 
into  the  running  timbers.  A  prow  cleat  1  by  12  inches  by  2  feet  is 
attached  to  the  front  end  of  each  running  timber  by  means  of  two 
prow-cleat  brackets.  The  two  towing  irons  are  attached  to  the 
outside  of  the  two  running  timbers  at  the  prow. 

The  superstructure  is  a  vertical  rectangular  frame  10  by  24  feet 
consisting  of  three  upright  masts  and  two  longitudinal  boards. 
Each  mast  consists  of  two  1  by  4  inch  boards  nailed  together  at  right 
angles  and  supported  on  the  cross  planks  in  pillow  blocks.  The  top 
of  each  mast  is  braced  by  four  guy  ropes  two  of  which  are  attached 
to  each  running  timber.  All  guy  ropes  are  made  of  one-eighth  inch 
diameter  flexible  wire  sash  cord  and  are  supplied  with  4  inch  turn- 
buckles.  The  center  mast  is  extended  6  feet  above  the  rest  of  the 
superstructure  in  order  to  provide  a  sight  rod  which  is  painted  in 
alternate  bands  of  white  and  red,  each  band  1  foot  6  inches  wide. 

A  twine  net,  0.5  square  mesh,  of  No.  15  twine,  is  strung  between 
the  three  masts.  This  net  is  bound  with  a  15-thread  0.625  diameter 
manila  rope  on  four  sides,  and  is  secured  to  the  masts  and  longitu- 
dinal boards  by  means  of  screw  hooks.  A  piece  of  vermilion  bunting 
will  be  issued  with  each  target  to  be  fitted  to  the  target  at  the  post. 

(5) 


The  wood  work  is  spruce  or  yellow  pine,  and  is  given  two  coats  of 
red-lead  paint,  except  that  the  white  bands  of  the  sight  rod  are 
painted  with  white-lead  paint. 


SEACOAST   TARGET,   PYRAMIDAL,,   MODEL  OF  1917. 

The  base  of  this  target  is  composed  of  three  parallel  running  tim- 
bers, two  cross  planks  notched  into  the  running  timbers,  and  a  prow 
cleat.  Two  mast  boards  are  bolted  to  the  middle  running  timber  and 
are  nailed  together  at  the  top.  They  are  braced  with  1  by  4  inch 
boards  to  the  middle  running  timber.  Guy  ropes  made  of  one-eighth 
inch  flexible  wire  sash  cord  run  from  the  mast  boards  to  the  front 
and  rear  of  each  of  the  outside  running  timbers.  These  guy  ropes  are 
supplied  with  4-inch  turnbuckles,  and  should  be  kept  taut  in  order  to 
prevent  straining  or  dislocating  the  mast  boards.  The  cover  of 
the  target  extends  to  within  3  feet  8  inches  of  the  base  and  is  made  of 
vermilion  bunting.  It  is  tied  to  one-half  inch  diameter  manila  ropes 
which  lead  from  the  front  and  rear  ends  of  the  outside  running 
timbers  to  the  top  of  the  mast  where  they  pass  through  a  hole  in  the 
mast  boards.  Two  towing  irons  are  supplied  at  each  end  of  the  tar- 
get to  permit  of  towing  two  or  more  targets  at  once. 

All  of  the  woodwork  of  the  pyramidal  target  is  of  spruce  or  yellow 
pine  painted  with  two  coats  of  red-lead  paint. 

SEACOAST  TARGET,   TRIANGULAR,   MODEL  OF  1917. 

This  target  has  a  base  of  two  running  timbers  3  by  12  inches  by 
14  feet,  braced  by  two  cross  planks  2  by  10  inches  by  10  feet,  the 
cross  planks  being  notched  into  the  running  timbers.  The  super- 
structure consists  of  two  target  legs,  one  of  which  is  attached  at  the 
center  of  each  cross  plank  by  means  of  target-leg  blocks.  The  target 
legs  are  set  at  angles  of  22°  with  the  vertical  and  are  nailed  together 
at  the  point  where  they  cross.  The  superstructure  is  braced  by  two 
guy  ropes  made  of  flexible-wire  sash  cord,  which  are  attached  by 
nut  eyebolts  to  the  target  legs  near  the  point  where  they  cross  and 
to  each  of  the  running  timbers.  Each  guy  rope  is  supplied  with  a 
4-inch  turnbuckle.  The  right  target  leg  is  made  4  feet  longer  than 
the  left  target  leg  and  has  the  part  above  the  point  of  attachment 
of  the  left  target  leg  painted  in  alternate  bands  of  white  and  red, 
each  12  inches  broad,  to  furnish  a  suitable  aiming  point.  A  piece 
of  vermilion  bunting  is  attached  to  the  two  target  legs  by  tacks  and 
leather  washers  and  extends  from  15  inches  below  the  bottom  of  the 
sight  rod  to  5  feet  above  the  running  timbers.  The  towing  irons  are 
attached  to  the  outside  of  the  running  timbers  at  the  prow. 


The  woodwork  is  spruce  or  yellow  pine,  and  is  given  two  coats  of 
red-lead  paint  except  that  the  white  bands  on  the  sight  rod  are 
painted  with  white-lead  paint. 

PRESERVATION  AND   CARE  OF  TARGETS. 

When  not  in  use  the  targets  should  be  placed  on  skids  about  1  foot 
from  the  ground  and,  if  practicable,  out  of  the  wind. 

The  towline,  nets,  and  the  bridles  will  be  removed  from  the  targets 
when  out  of  use. 

Care  will  be  taken  to  see  that  the  targets  are  painted  with  sufficient 
frequency  to  preserve  them  from  deterioration. 

TOWLINES,   BRIDLES,   ANCHORS,  ETC. 

The  towline  is  not  a  part  of  these  targets.  The  length  of  the  tow- 
line  varies  for  different  districts.  (See  current  target  practice  circu- 
lar for  allowance  of  towlines,  targets,  etc.)  For  attaching  the  tow- 
line  to  the  targets,  bridles  of  manila  rope  are  used.  The  bridle  is 
made  of  0.75-inch  diameter  rope  and  has  two  branches  of  20  feet 
each.  A  thimble  in  the  middle  is  provided  for  the  attachment  of  the 
towline  to  prevent  the  target  from  towing  sideways. 

The  anchor  furnished  is  100  pounds  in  weight. 

Two  streamers,  made  of  scarlet  woolen  serge,  are  authorized  for 
each  post  where  target  practice  is  held ;  one  for  use  on  the  towing  tug 
and  one  for  use  on  shore.    (See  drawing  39-5-1  for  streamer.) 

CARE  AND  PRESERVATION  OF  TOWLINES  AND  BRIDLES 

Great  care  is  necessary  to  preserve  rope  that  has  been  wet  with 
salt  water  from  rapid  deterioration.  All  rope  should  be  removed 
from  the  targets  and  coiled  when  not  in  use.  Before  coiling  it  should 
be  dried,  and  after  coiling  should  be  stored  in  a  dry  building. 

SUPPLY  OF  TARGETS,  ACCESSORIES,  SPARE  PARTS,  ETC. 

The  allowances  of  spare  parts  of  targets  are  given  on  Plates  I,  II, 
and  III. 

The  permanent  equipment  is  liable  to  change  from  time  to  time  by 
War  Department  orders. 

The  upkeep  of  the  articles  forming  the  permanent  equipment  in 
and  the  supply  of  the  spare  parts  to  the  various  coast  defenses  will  be 
attended  to  by  the  commanding  officers  of  the  following  ordnance 
establishments,  to  wit : 

Watertown  Arsenal:  All  in  the  Northern,  Central,  and  Sandy 
Hook  Armament  Districts  and  the  Canal  Zone. 


8 

Augusta  Arsenal :  All  Coast  Defenses  of  the  Southern  Armament 
District. 

Benicia  Arsenal :  All  Coast  Defenses  in  the  Western  and  Hawaiian 
Armament  Districts. 

Manila  Ordnance  Depot:  All  Coast  Defenses  in  the  Philippine 
Armament  Districts. 

Requisitions  for  target  material  will  be  forwarded  to  the  com- 
manding officers  of  the  above  ordnance  establishments  by  department 
ordnance  officers  for  action. 

Was  Department, 

Office  of  the  Chief  of  Ordnance, 
Washington,  August  21,  1917. 

February  27,  1908. 

Revised  June  15,  1909. 

Revised  October  29,  1913. 

Revised  August  21,   1917. 

Form  No.  1991. 

Ed.  Aug.  21—17—2,000. 


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YC  64267 


Gaylofd  Bros. 

Makers 
Syracuse    N*. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


